Wearable Article with Extensible Fastening Member Having Stress Distribution Features and/or Fastening Combination Performance Characteristics, and Method of Testing and Selecting Fastening Combination Performance Characteristics

ABSTRACT

A method for measuring the force necessary to separate a sample of a hooks fastener component from engagement with a loops component is disclosed. The method includes the steps of engaging respective samples of the hooks material and loops material along a plane of engagement, displacing them in a shear direction parallel with the plane of engagement, pulling them apart on a tensile tester in a direction orthogonal to the plane of engagement, until disengaged, and measuring the pulling force exerted during the pulling step. A wearable article having a combination of hooks fastener and loops material landing zone is also disclosed, wherein the hooks fastener and loops material are selected using the disclosed method.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/251,875, filed Oct. 15, 2009, the substance of which is incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Some wearable articles are manufactured to include fastening members.For example, some varieties of diapers are manufactured with a pair ofoppositely-oriented side fastening members, extending laterally fromeach side of a first waist region of the chassis, each fastening memberhaving a fastener located at or near the outboard end thereof, andadapted to attach or adhere to a fastener receiving zone (“landingzone”) disposed on a second waist region of the chassis. The fasteningmembers may be formed in part or in whole of a nonwoven web material. Insome examples, the fastening members are formed at least in part of alaminate of one or more layers of nonwoven web material and one or morelayers or strands of a polymeric elastic material, and fashioned andadapted in such a way as to be elastically extensible in at least thedirection in which the fastening member is to be pulled duringapplication and use. One type has fastening members extending from therear waist region of the diaper, and is intended to enable the personapplying the diaper (hereinafter, “applier”) to lay the diaper open on asurface, with the rear region of the diaper beneath a reclining wearer'sbottom, wrap the chassis forward between the wearer's legs and up overthe front of the lower torso, draw each fastening member from the rearwaist region around a hip, and attach the end of each fastening memberto the front region via the fastener, thereby forming a waistband andpant-like structure about the wearer. When the diaper is applied, eachfastening member may be in direct contact with the wearer's skin at ahip.

In some examples of diapers having fastening members, it may bedesirable that the fastening members be formed so as to coversubstantial areas of skin at the wearer's hips. This may have twopurposes, among others: First, comfort, resulting from distribution ofnormal force components of tension forces in the fastening members overgreater, rather than lesser, areas of skin; and second, appearance.

It also may be desirable to form fastening members from material that isrelatively soft to the touch, pliable and stretchy. Purposes for thismay include comfort.

Fastening members may be subject to varying forces, resulting fromtugging during application, and from the wearer's movements at the hips,particularly if the diaper is snugly applied. These forces may havevarious undesirable effects. A typical fastening member, e.g., one thatextends from the rear waist region of a diaper, is longer at its inboardend than at its outboard end. This general geometry may be incorporatedto allow for, e.g., better fit about the wearer's hips, and betterdistribution of lateral tension forces along a greater length along thelocation(s) where the fastening member joins the rear waist region,thereby reducing the likelihood of tearing along that line or locationsproximate the inboard end of the fastening member. Conversely, arelatively shorter outboard end, typically having a fastener attachedproximate thereto, allows for tugging by the applier by simply graspingbetween thumb and forefinger, and for easy selection and placement of apoint or region of fastening, by simply placing the grasped, shortenedoutboard end at the desired location. This general geometry results inlateral tension forces being focused from a longer inboard region to ashorter outboard end region of the fastening member. This focusing,together with stretching, creates longitudinal force components withinthe fastening member.

Longitudinal force components acting within the fastening member maycreate the likelihood that portions of the fastening member such as apanel region and/or extensible zone thereof will undesirably laterallybuckle and/or flip away from the wearer. For purposes of maximizing skincoverage for best appearance, evenly distributing forces, and wearercomfort, panel regions of fastening members may be formed so as to havethe greatest length (in a longitudinal direction along the chassis)feasible under the circumstances. Increasing length adds to the area ofthe material forming the panel region. With increasing length andsurface area of the panel region, undesirable buckling/flipping of thepanel region material proximate either the top or bottom edges may bemore likely, particularly when the wearer bends at the hips. Thisproblem may be more likely to manifest itself in “tape” type fasteningmembers, in which a comparatively short tab member, bearing a fastenerand forming the end region of the fastening member, joins a relativelylonger side panel region, such that a step-wise decrease in length ofthe fastening member exists where the panel region ends and the tabmember extends therefrom. When the panel region and/or an extensiblezone thereof is highly extensible (and relatively pliable), it may tendto buckle and flip about the relatively short tab member.

In examples in which a layer forming an end region of a fastening memberis coextensive in length, or longer than, a layer of material formingthe region immediately inboard of the end region, buckling/flipping ofthe panel region proximate its edges may be less likely becauselongitudinal force components resulting from lateral tension in thefastening member may be distributed into the end region. As a result,however, such longitudinal force components may act at or about thelateral edges of the fastener and contribute to causing the fastener tobend or “dish”, i.e., contribute to causing its lateral edges to beurged to turn up and away from the surface to which it is attached. Forexample, one type of diaper fastening member may include a fastenerconsisting of a patch of hooks, a component of a hook-and-loop fasteningsystem (such as a 3M, APLIX or VELCRO hook-and-loop system). A patch ofa corresponding loops component may be disposed at a landing zone on theoutside front waist region of the diaper, so as to enable attachmentwhen the hooks patch is pressed against the landing zone. Anotherexample may have a fastener consisting of a patch of material bearing anadhesive effective to adhere to a smooth surface disposed at the landingzone. Upon being tugged laterally by an applier during application,and/or with lateral tension resulting from application and/or thewearer's movements, longitudinal force components of tension forces inthe fastening member, acting at the edges of the fastener patch, canurge its longitudinally outer edges up and away from the landing zone,thereby causing a sub-optimal fastener attachment to the landing zone,or weakening the fastener's hold at the landing zone, or even causingthe fastener's hold to fail—which may allow the diaper to come loose orfall free of the wearer.

In some circumstances, stresses in the fastening member resulting fromlateral tension may concentrate in the end region near or at the inboardedges of the fastener zone. As a result, the likelihood of a tearbeginning at the location of stress concentration is increased. Forexample, stresses may be concentrated at locations where the fasteningmember narrows to an end region, particularly if there is an abruptstructural discontinuity, such as created by the presence of, forexample, the edge of a patch of a relatively stiffer material adhered toa substrate material. Tearing may occur in the end region, at or nearthe fastener zone, when the applier tugs on the fastening member toapply the diaper; or the end region may tear at or near the fastenerzone from stresses resulting from the wearer's movements.

The above-described events, i.e., panel region buckling/flipping,fastener dishing, and tearing, may be deemed problematic because theymay result in less than optimum performance and/or appearance, failureof the product, and consumer dissatisfaction.

Likelihood of the problems identified above may be decreased by the useof relatively more robust materials to form the fastening member. Amaterial that is more robust, and therefore, stiffer and more resistiveto buckling and tearing, may be used to form the panel region and/orextensible zone. Robustness of a material such as a stretch laminate canbe increased, for example, by the use of materials having greater basisweights and/or densities. Similarly, increasing the bending stiffness ofa fastener patch by selection of a thicker and/or denser patch materialmay make it more resistive to dishing.

These approaches, however, also may have undesirable consequences. If afastener patch is too stiff and unyielding, when fastened at thewearer's waist it may feel like an unyielding object and be a source ofdiscomfort for the wearer under certain circumstances. Increasing thestrength of a stretch laminate may increase its stiffness, but decreaseits extensibility and pliability, as well. Increasing the stiffness of amaterial that is against the wearer's skin in a region of the bodysubject to movement and bending may increase likelihood of discomfortfor the wearer, and promote marking, irritation and chafing of thewearer's skin. For the manufacturer of disposable diapers, acceptablebut relatively more robust materials may be relatively more expensive.If fastening members are not extensible, or not sufficiently so, then itmay be necessary to build additional stretch features into, e.g., thewaist regions of the chassis, if assurance of a comfortable andsnug-fitting diaper is to be maintained.

From the foregoing it can be appreciated that the design of a fasteningmember involves a variety of concerns, and that a great number ofvariables and permutations in the combinations of materials, featuresand structures used is possible. Changing one material, feature orstructure to address one concern may give rise to other concerns. A needfor improvements in the combination of materials, features andstructures used, that satisfactorily address and reduce concerns forcomfort, performance and manufacturing cost of the fastening member andits associated wearable article, always exists.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, like numerals or other designations designate likefeatures throughout the views.

FIG. 1 is a simplified depiction of a wearable article in the form of adiaper, shown extended and laid flat, viewed from above, wearer-facingsurface up;

FIG. 2 is a depiction of an example of a fastening member, laid flat andviewed from above;

FIG. 3 is a depiction of an example of a fastening member, laid flat andviewed from above;

FIG. 4 is a depiction of an example of a fastening member, laid flat andviewed from above;

FIG. 5 is a depiction of an example of a fastening member, laid flat andviewed from above;

FIG. 6 is a depiction of an example of a fastening member, laid flat andviewed from above;

FIG. 7 is a depiction of an example of a fastening member, laid flat andviewed from above;

FIG. 8 is a depiction of an example of a fastening member, laid flat andviewed from above;

FIG. 9 is a depiction of a simplified schematic, exploded lateral crosssection through an example of a fastening member, taken along a stretchdirection;

FIG. 10A is a reproduction of a CAD drawing depicting an example of afastening member, laid flat and viewed from above;

FIG. 10B is a reproduction of a CAD drawing depicting an example of afastening member, laid flat and viewed from above;

FIG. 10C is a depiction of a simplified schematic, exploded lateralcross section through the example of the fastening member depicted inFIG. 10A;

FIG. 11 is an elevation view showing an apparatus for testing thebending stiffness of materials;

FIG. 12 is a front elevation view showing a plunger for use with theapparatus of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a side elevation view showing a plunger for use with theapparatus of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a graph showing Peak bending load and slope calculation areason bending curve;

FIG. 15A is a simplified depiction of a wearable article in the form ofa diaper, shown extended and laid flat, viewed from above, wearer-facingsurface up;

FIG. 15B is a simplified depiction of a wearable article in the form ofa diaper, shown extended and laid flat, viewed from above, wearer-facingsurface down;

FIG. 15C is a depiction of a sample of landing zone material removedfrom a wearable article such as depicted in FIGS. 15A and 15B;

FIG. 16A is a schematic front-view depiction of upper and lower fixturesused in the Vertical Pull Test described herein;

FIG. 16B is schematic perspective-view depiction of the lower fixtureused in the Vertical Pull Test described herein, shown with test samplesoriented with respect thereto; and

FIG. 16C is a view of cross-section C-C taken through the schematicdepiction of the lower fixture shown in FIG. 16A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

For purposes of this Description, it is intended that the followingterms have the meanings set forth:

As used herein, the term “extensible” refers to the property of amaterial, wherein: when a biasing force is applied to the material, thematerial can be extended to an elongated length of at least 110% of itsoriginal relaxed length (i.e. can extend 10%), without a rupture orbreakage that renders the material unusable for its intended purpose. Amaterial that does not meet this definition is considered inextensible.In some embodiments, an extensible material may be able to be extendedto an elongated length of 125% or more of its original relaxed lengthwithout rupture or breakage that renders the material unusable for itsintended purpose. An extensible material may or may not exhibit recoveryafter application of a biasing force.

Throughout the present description, an extensible material is consideredto be “elastically extensible” if, when a biasing force is applied tothe material, the material can be extended to an elongated length of atleast 110% of its original relaxed length (i.e. can extend 10%), withoutrupture or breakage which renders the material unusable for its intendedpurpose, and when the force is removed from the material, the materialrecovers at least 40% of its elongation. In various examples, when theforce is removed from an elastically extensible material, the materialmay recover at least 60% or at least 80% of its elongation.

“Inboard”, and forms thereof, with respect to features of a fasteningmember, means furthest from or in a direction away from the free distalend.

An “inboard- and longitudinally inward-pointing vertex”, with respect toa feature of a lateral edge of a wearable article fastening member, laidflat and horizontally, viewed from above, is one in which a line equallydividing the angle formed by the vertex, together with the portions ofthe lines forming the vertex, form an arrow that points at leastpartially longitudinally inwardly on the fastening member and away froma lateral line perpendicular to the wearable article longitudinal axisand intersecting the longitudinally outermost point along the lateraledge, and at least partially in a laterally inboard direction. Referringto FIG. 2, such inboard direction is indicated by arrow 3 (perpendicularto longitudinal axis 24); longitudinally inward directions are indicatedby arrows 4 (parallel to longitudinal axis 24, and pointing away fromlateral lines 6); and examples of inboard and longitudinally inwarddirections are indicated by arrows 5, formed at depicted examples ofidentifiable inboard- and longitudinally inward-pointing vertices 7.

“Junction line,” with respect to a fastening member comprisingcomponents that are discrete from other components of a wearablearticle, which fastening member is welded, bonded, adhered or otherwiseattached to the wearable article, means a longitudinal line, parallelwith a longitudinal axis of the wearable article, across the fasteningmember through the inboard-most point at which the fastening member or aportion thereof is extensible in response to a lateral tension forceimposed thereon. Note: In some examples of fastening members, anextensible zone might have an irregular shape or orientation, or consistof a plurality of extensible portions; in such examples, the point atwhich such shape, orientation or extensible portions are closest to alongitudinal axis of a wearable article will mark the location of thejunction line. “Junction line,” with respect to a fastening membercomprising one or more components that are not discrete from, butrather, integral with, one or more components of a diaper chassis thatis disposed in an opened, extended position and laid flat andhorizontally, viewed from above, means either—(a) a longitudinal linealong the fastening member and integral chassis component, parallel tothe wearable article longitudinal axis, and aligned with thelongitudinal edge of the chassis at its narrowest point, on the sidefrom which the fastening member extends, or (b) a longitudinal lineacross the fastening member through the inboard-most point at which thefastening member or a portion thereof is extensible—whicheverlongitudinal line is most outboard along the fastening member, subjectto the Note immediately above.

“Lateral” (and forms thereof), with respect to a line lying in a planesubstantially occupied by a wearable article fastening member laid flatand horizontally, viewed from above, relates to a directionsubstantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the wearablearticle. “Lateral” and “width” (and forms thereof), with respect tofeatures of a wearable article fastening member, relates to a direction,or generally following a direction, partially or entirely perpendicularto a longitudinal axis along the wearable article. “Lateral” and “width”(and forms thereof), with respect to features of a diaper chassis,relates to a direction substantially parallel to the lateral axis of thechassis.

“Lateral axis” with respect to a wearable article adapted to be worn bya wearer, means an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, andequally dividing the longitudinal length of the article.

Where features or elements of claims set forth herein are identified as“lines” or “line segments” or “points”, such lines, line segments orpoints are not actual physical features themselves unless otherwisespecified, but rather, are geometric references intended for use indescribing locations on a physical structure.

“Longitudinal” and “length” (and forms thereof), with respect to a linelying in a plane substantially occupied by a wearable article fasteningmember laid flat and horizontally, viewed from above, relates to adirection approximately aligned with the wearer's spine when the articlewould be normally worn, with the wearer in a standing or extendedreclining position. “Longitudinal” and “length” (and forms thereof),with respect to features of a fastening member, relates to a direction,or generally following a direction approximately aligned with thewearer's spine when the article would be normally worn, with the wearerin a standing or extended reclining position. “Longitudinal” and“length” (and forms thereof), with respect to features of a diaperchassis, relates to a direction approximately aligned with the wearer'sspine when the article would be normally worn, with the wearer in astanding or extended reclining position.

“Longitudinal axis” with respect to a wearable article adapted to beworn by a wearer, means an axis approximately aligned with the wearer'sspine when the article would be normally worn, with the wearer in astanding or extended reclining position, and equally dividing thelateral width of the article, the lateral width being measured along adirection generally, parallel to the lateral axis.

“Longitudinal axis” with respect to a diaper chassis having a pair ofopposing lateral waist edges and a pair of opposing longitudinal edges,the diaper chassis being opened and laid flat and horizontally, viewedfrom above, means a line connecting the waist edges and equidistant fromthe longitudinal edges, thus equally dividing the lateral width of thechassis, as illustrated by way of example in FIG. 1 (at referencenumeral 24).

“Longitudinally inner”, and forms thereof, with respect to a fasteningmember laid flat and horizontally, viewed from above, means at or towardits longitudinal middle, between its lateral edges.

“Longitudinally outer”, and forms thereof, with respect to a fasteningmember laid flat and horizontally, viewed from above, means at or towardone of its lateral edges, and away from its longitudinal middle.

“Nonwoven” or “nonwoven material” means a fabric-like web materialformed of fibers of a material (such as a polymeric material) which areneither woven nor knitted.

“Normal”, when used in conjunction with the terms “direction”, “force”and/or “stress” in a web material, refers to a direction approximatelyorthogonal to the macroscopic surface of the web material when laidflat, or approximately orthogonal to a plane that is tangential to themacroscopic planar surface of the web material when the macroscopicsurface of the web material is curved.

“Outboard”, and forms thereof, with respect to features of a fasteningmember, means at or in a direction toward its free distal end.

“Overlap” (and forms thereof), when used to describe a disposition oftwo or more discrete layers forming a fastening member, means that onelayer lies, at least partially, vertically over or beneath the other(s)when the member is laid flat in horizontal position, as viewed fromabove. Unless otherwise specified, “overlap” is not intended to imply orbe limited to meaning that the layers are in direct contact with eachother, without any intermediate layers or other materials or structuresbetween them.

“Stiffness”, when capitalized, refers to a property of a portion of afastening member as identified and determined by application of theStiffness Test set forth herein.

“Stretch laminate” means an extensible and elastic web materialcomprising a combination of an elastic polymeric material layered,laminated or interspersed with a nonwoven material.

FIG. 1 generally depicts a simplified representation an example of awearable article, in the form of a diaper 1, as it might appear in anopened, extended position, laid flat and horizontally, body-facingsurface up, and viewed from above. Diaper 1 may have a chassis 10,longitudinal edges 23, longitudinal axis 24, lateral axis 25, frontwaist region 11, front waist edge 12, rear waist region 13, and rearwaist edge 14, and an absorbent core (not shown) disposed between layersof the chassis 10. Chassis 10 may have a pair of oppositely-orientedfastening members 50 a, 50 b extending laterally from a waist region 11or 13. A fastening member 50 a may be a discrete component affixed to aportion of chassis 10 along a line as suggested on the left side ofFIG. 1. In another example, however, a fastening member 50 b may be acomponent that is not discrete from the chassis 10, but rather, may beintegral with a chassis component such as a backsheet, forming anextension thereof, such as suggested on the right side of FIG. 1.

Each of fastening members 50 a, 50 b may have a respective fastener zone71 that includes a fastener 70 disposed at or near its outboard end. Inone example, a fastener 70 may be a patch of hook material constitutingthe hook components of a hook-and-loop fastening system (such as a 3M,APLIX or VELCRO hook-and-loop system). In this example, thegarment-facing surface of front waist region 11 may have a laterallyextended landing zone 22 bearing a patch or strip of loop materialconstituting the cooperating loop component of the hook-and-loopfastening system. In another example, a fastener 70 may be a patch ofadhesive-bearing material, and landing zone 22 may bear a patch ofadhesive-receiving material having smooth surface features and/orchemistry effective to provide an adhesive bond upon contact with afastener 70. Other examples of fasteners include but are not limited tofastening elements described in co-pending U.S. application Ser. No.11/895,169. Other examples may include any other cooperating engagingand receiving surfaces or components adapted to effect fastening,respective components of which may be disposed on either fastening zone71 or landing zone 22, or another location of the wearable article asdesired. A fastener 70 also may include groups of separatelyidentifiable fastening elements such as a plurality of discrete patchesof adhesive-bearing material, discrete patches of hooks, etc. In any ofthe above examples as well as other possible examples, the lateralextent of a landing zone 22 across front waist region 11 as suggested inFIG. 1 provides for attachment of fasteners 70 at laterally varyinglocations along the front waist region 11, and thereby, adjustability ofthe waist opening size and snugness of the diaper as it is being appliedto a wearer.

FIG. 3 depicts an example of a fastening member 50 a shown apart from awearable article. The fastening member 50 a has a first longitudinallyoutermost lateral edge 68, a second longitudinally outermost lateraledge 69, and an outboard end 54. In examples such as those in which thewearable article is a diaper, in order to comfortably accommodate thewearer's movements while promoting a snug fit (and thus, optimalappearance and avoidance of leakage of the wearer's exudates), it may bedesirable to form fastening member 50 a with an extensible zone 66,which may comprise a laminate that is extensible along a stretchdirection 67. In all examples discussed herein, extensible zone 66 maycomprise a web or laminate web that is elastically extensible.Extensible zone 66 may extend between inboard and outboard extensiblezone extents 86, 87. Outboard extensible zone extent 87 is a line drawnlongitudinally through the outboard-most extent of the location(s) ofextensible zone 66. (In some examples of fastening members, anextensible zone might have an irregular shape or orientation, or consistof a plurality of extensible portions; in such examples, the point atwhich such shape, orientation or extensible portions are farthest from alongitudinal axis of a wearable article will mark the location of theoutboard extensible zone extent 87.) In examples having mechanicalactivation as described below, forming extensible zone 66, extensiblezone extents 86, 87 may fall along inboard and outboard lines at which aregion of mechanical activation is bounded. For all purposes herein,inboard extensible zone extent 86 is coincident with junction line 51.Fastening member 50 a may be attached to a wearable article in anysuitable manner, including, but not limited to, continuous orintermittent adhesive bonding, compression bonding, heat bonding,ultrasonic bonding, etc. Fastening zone 71 is bounded by fastening zoneinboard extent 88 and fastening zone outboard extent 75; extents 88 and75 are longitudinal lines, parallel with the longitudinal axis of thewearable article, along the inboard-most and outboard-most locations atwhich a fastener is located. Inboard fastener zone corners 72 and 73 arerespective points on lateral edges 68, 69 intersected by fastener zoneinboard extent 88. Note: In some examples of fastening members, afastener might have an irregular shape or orientation, or consist of aplurality of discrete fastening elements; in such examples, the pointsat which such shape, orientation or elements are closest to and farthestfrom a longitudinal axis of a wearable article will mark the locationsof the fastening zone inboard and outboard extents 88 and 75,respectively.

A junction line 51 on the fastening member can be identified as definedabove, and intersects first and second outermost lateral edges 68, 69 atfirst and second longitudinally outermost junction points 52, 53. Firstand second line segments 76, 78, connecting first and second junctionpoints 52, 53 and first and second inboard fastener zone corners 72, 73,respectively, can be identified. An end region 55 may project in anoutboard direction from outboard extensible zone extent 87, and includean intermediate region 57. End region 55 may have a fastener 70 disposedat or near the outboard end 54 thereof. One or more layers of materialforming end region 55 may be partially or entirely integral andcontinuous with layer(s) of material forming panel region 56, or endregion 55 may be formed of differing or supplemental materials attachedto panel region 56.

As noted in the Background, fastening members of a diaper may bedesigned and situated to Wrap around a wearer's hips. As a result, theymay be in contact with the skin at the wearer's hips while the diaper isbeing worn. Additionally, while a diaper is being worn the fasteningmembers will sustain and transfer varying tension forces, particularlywhen the wearer is active and bending at the hips. These tension forceshave normal force components acting on the wearer's skin. Thus, it maybe desirable that the material forming the skin-contacting portions of afastening member 50 a be selected with the objectives of maximizingextensibility, pliability and surface area. Increasing these variablesgenerally may help to more evenly distribute normal forces over agreater skin surface area, provide for easier accommodation of movement,and reduce the likelihood of skin marking and chafing.

Within the group of laminates of the kind often used for diapercomponents, greater extensibility may translate to greater pliability,as a result of reducing material thickness and/or density. Accordingly,it may be desirable that the extensible zone of fastening member 50 a,be formed of a material, for example, a stretch laminate, having arelatively high extensibility. Examples of stretch laminates that may besuitable for forming an extensible zone are described in PCTApplications No. WO 2005/110731 and Published U.S. Application Nos. US2004/0181200 and US 2004/0193133. Increasing extensibility also mayenable conservation of material, in that comparatively less of acomparatively more extensible material, is required to provide a desiredstretched width to the fastening member. It may be desirable, therefore,that the overall extensibility of a fastening member, expressed in termsof the ratio of the amount of extension in width over unstretched width,in response to a given lateral force load, be at least about aparticular amount.

For example, referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a reference width WS can beidentified, as the width of the fastening member from inboard extensiblezone extent 86 to fastener zone inboard edge 88. It may be desirable forthe fastening member to be extensible under a laterally-applied tensionload of 8.0 N to at least about 40%, or at least about 50%, or even atleast about 60%, where the percentage is calculated as [(amount ofextension of width WS at 8.0 N lateral tension load)/(unstretched widthWS at zero lateral load)]×100%. For purposes herein, this expression ofextensibility is referred to as “overall extensibility under load”.

The desirable amount of extensibility may, however, also vary inrelation to the length of the fastener zone 71 and/or the length of theextensible zone 66. In FIG. 5, the length of the fastener zone inboardedge is shown as LFP, and the length of the inboard extensible zoneextent 86 is shown as LEP.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, it may be desirable that the fasteningmember be extensible under a laterally-applied tension load of 2.1N/cm-LFP (2.1 N per each cm fastener inboard edge length LFP) to atleast about 45%, or at least about 55%, or even at least about 65%,where the percentage is calculated as [(amount of extension of width WSat 2.1 N/cm-LFP lateral tension load)/(unstretched width WS at zeroload)]×100%. For purposes herein, this expression of extensibility isreferred to as “extensibility under load per fastener zone length”.

Still referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, it may be desirable that the fasteningmember be extensible under a laterally-applied tension load of 1.0N/cm-LEP (1.0 N per each cm extensible zone inboard edge length LEP) toat least about 45%, or at least about 55%, or even at least about 65%,where the percentage is calculated as [(amount of extension of width WSat 1.0 N/cm-LEP lateral tension load)/(unstretched width WS at zeroload)]×100%. For purposes herein, this expression of extensibility isreferred to as “extensibility under load per extensible zone length”.

For purposes of the description herein, a “highly extensible fasteningmember” is any fastening member having an extensibility valueapproximately equal to or exceeding any of the lowest overallextensibility under load, extensibility under load per fastener zonelength, or extensibility under load per extensible zone length,described above.

At the same time, it may be desirable that a fastening member 50 a bemaximized in length L (the length of junction line 51) and surface area,to the extent feasible, for three reasons: first, to distribute thenormal forces acting against the skin over a greater skin area, forgreater comfort and less likelihood of skin marking and chafing; second,to distribute tension forces along a longer portion of the chassis inthe waist region, thus minimizing the likelihood of tearing at thechassis; and third, to maximize skin coverage at the hips, for purposesof appearance of the diaper.

Thus, extensibility, pliability and fastening member length/surface areaare several (among a number of) variables which may be adjusted toaffect comfort and performance. Adjustment of these variables, however,may have undesirable effects. For example, increasing length L andsurface area of the fastening member 50 a, increases the likelihood thattop or bottom edges of the panel region 56 may buckle and flip away fromthe wearer while the diaper is being worn, detracting from theappearance of the diaper and compromising some of the benefits of theincreased length and surface area. Referring to FIG. 3, withoutintending to be bound by theory, it is believed that first and secondline segments 76, 78 approximately show longitudinally outermost linesof tension in the fastening member between first and secondlongitudinally outermost junction points 52, 53 and first and secondinboard fastener zone corners 72, 73, that would exist absent shapefeatures of fastening element 50 a discussed in more detail below.Without intending to be bound by theory, it is believed that, as stressis distributed through an extensible web material when it is stretchedunder lateral load as in the configuration shown in FIG. 3, materialproximate to line segments 76, 78 may be subject to varying levels oflongitudinally inwardly-directed, transmitted longitudinal forcecomponents, which may tend to pull material outside line segments 76, 78longitudinally inwardly. In designs not having features hereindescribed, this may cause the material forming the panel region 56and/or the extensible zone 66 to buckle and even flip away from thewearer, approximately along the longitudinally outermost lines oftension. As a result of such buckling and/or flipping, normal forces inthe fastening member acting on the skin may be distributed over lessskin area, and appearance of the diaper may be compromised. Increasingthe pliability of the fastening member material may lessen its abilityto resist such buckling/flipping, and may thereby exacerbate theproblem.

In addition, without intending to be bound by theory, it is believedthat increasing the length L and/or pliability of fastening member 50 amay increase a tendency to cause longitudinally inward-directedlongitudinal force components to be distributed through the fasteningmember so as to act in concentrated areas along the longitudinally outeredges of the fastener zone 71. This effect, coupled with movements bythe wearer that may urge the fastener zone 71 to flex such that itslongitudinally outer edges move away from the wearer, may cause thelongitudinal forces to be directed so as to further urge the edges offastener zone 71 away from the wearer. As a result, the edges of thefastener zone 71 may be urged away (dish) from the landing zone to whichfastener 70 is attached, which in turn, may cause the hold of thefastener 70 to the landing zone to be weakened, or even to fail.

The problems identified above may be mitigated by the use of materialshaving a higher planar bending stiffness for, e.g., the panel region 56,extensible zone 66, end region 55, fastener zone 71, and areasbetween/around them. As these areas are stiffened, the likelihood ofundesired buckling of the extensible zone, and lifting of edges of thefastener zone, is decreased. This approach, however, may haveundesirable effects. Stiffening the panel region 56 and/or extensiblezone 66 may necessarily require using materials that are thicker and/ormore dense, and add material cost. Stiffer material in panel region 56and/or extensible zone 66 may undesirably feel less soft, supple andcloth-like to the applier and the wearer. It also may be lessextensible. A reduction in extensibility in a fastening member meansthat, unless snugness and comfort of the article are to be compromised,features imparting lateral extensibility about the waist must beincorporated into other components of the diaper, for example, the waistregions 11, 13 of the chassis 10. Excessively increasing stiffness inthe fastener zone 71 may create the feel of an unyielding object againstthe diaper at the wearer's abdomen, and may be a source of discomfortfor the wearer, particularly when the wearer is sitting and/or bendingforward at the hips. Increasing stiffness in the fastener zone also maynecessitate increasing material thickness and/or density, adding cost.

Other approaches, however, may be employed.

As noted, FIGS. 3 and 4 depict examples of a fastening member, 50 a and50 b. Potentially advantageous features in these examples will now bedescribed. (FIG. 3 depicts a fastening member 50 a comprising discretecomponents as may be attached to a wearable article; FIG. 4 depicts afastening member 50 b comprising components integral with components ofa wearable article.)

A fastening member may be integrally-formed. “Integrally-formed,” forpurposes herein and with respect to a fastening member having a fastenerattached thereto, means a fastening member that has one or both of thefollowing characteristics: (1) It has no inboard- and longitudinallyinward-pointing vertex lying along its first or second outermost lateraledges, and lying between the inboard edge of the fastener zone and ajunction line; and/or (2) there is at least one longitudinal line alongthe end region, along which a layer of material forming the end regionis longitudinally coextensive with, or longer than, a layer of materialforming an extensible zone. These characteristics structurally andfunctionally distinguish a fastening member having one or both of themfrom a fastening member having a “tape” type construction, in which acomparatively short tab member, bearing a fastener and forming the endregion of the fastening member, joins a relatively longer side panelregion of the fastening member, in which such vertices are present andno such line exists.

Without intending to be bound by theory, it is believed that anintegrally-formed fastening member is substantially less prone tobuckling/flipping in the panel region and/or extensible zone asdescribed above, as compared with possible constructions not havingthese characteristics.

Thus, referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 9, for example, a layer of material inwhole or in part forming end region 55, such as first surface layer 62or second surface layer 63 may also form a part of panel region 56 andextensible zone 66. It can be appreciated that there may be at least oneline (in the example depicted, there are more than one), along which anend region layer of material (such as first surface layer 62, secondsurface layer 63 and/or reinforcing layer 61) may be longitudinallycoextensive with, or longer than, a layer of material forming theextensible zone 66. In FIGS. 3 and 4 it can be seen that one or both ofoutermost lateral edges 68, 69 can be shaped so as to have no inboard-and longitudinally inward-pointing vertices lying therealong, betweenthe inboard edge 88 of the fastener zone 71 and a junction line 51. Itcan also be appreciated that, even where end region 55 is formed ofmaterials or components that are discrete from materials forming panelregion 56, which are affixed to an outboard portion of panel region 56,when end region 55 is appropriately shaped there still may be at leastone line along which an end region layer of material may belongitudinally coextensive with, or longer than, a layer of materialforming the extensible zone 66, and/or, one or both of outermost lateraledges 68, 69 can be shaped so as to have no inboard- and longitudinallyinward-pointing vertices lying therealong, between the inboard edge 88of the fastener zone 71 and a junction line 51, thus forming anintegrally-formed fastening member.

While an integrally-formed fastening member may be less prone to panelregion buckling and flipping, the construction may cause transfer oflongitudinal forces outboard along the fastening member, toward and intothe end region. Unless these forces are managed by other features,integrally-formed construction may, in some circumstances, lead toincreased likelihood of fastener zone dishing.

Additional possible advantageous features of a fastening member outershape may be identified in FIGS. 3 and 4. It can be seen that one orboth of the first and second longitudinally outermost lateral edges 68,69 may be given a profile that traverses line segments 76, 78. Thisfeature may provide certain advantages. Without intending to be bound bytheory, it is believed that it serves to direct lines of tension, andlongitudinal force components thereof, away from the lateral edges andtoward the longitudinal middle of the fastening member, thus furtherreducing the likelihood of buckling/flipping in the panel region and/orextensible zone. It also is believed such direction of longitudinalforce components toward the longitudinal middle decreases the leveragesuch longitudinal force components may otherwise exert at the lateralouter edges of fastener zone 71 that tend to urge it dish.

Adjusting other aspects of the shape of a fastening member also may beeffective at reducing fastener dishing, and panel region buckling andflipping, while allowing for generous skin coverage. Referring to FIG.5, fastening member 50 a may have junction line 51, outboard end 54,fastener zone 71, fastener 70, and extensible zone 66. Extensible zone66 may be bounded by an inboard extensible zone extent 86 and anoutboard extensible zone extent 87. Extensible zone 66 may beelastically extensible between extents 86, 87 along lateral stretchdirection 67. Extents 86 and 87 may be, in one example, lines alongwhich activation of a stretch laminate forming fastening member 50 abegin and end, such that fastening member 67 is substantiallyelastically extensible in extensible zone 66, but not substantiallyelastically extensible in the areas inboard and outboard of extents 86and 87, respectively.

For reference purposes, an acting width WA in an example such asdepicted in FIG. 5 may be identified as the width of fastening member 50a from the fastener zone outboard edge 75, lying along longitudinal lineW0, to inboard extensible zone extent line 86, lying along longitudinalline W100. Width WA may be divided into four equal portions, bylongitudinal line W25 lying at 25% of acting width WA; longitudinal lineW50 lying at 50% of acting width WA, and longitudinal line W75 lying at75% of acting width WA, and bounded by lines W0 and W100. Fasteningmember 50 a may have varying lengths L0, L25, L50, L75 and L100measurable along lines W0, W25, W50, W75 and W100, respectively, wherethey intersect with first and second longitudinally outermost lateraledges 68, 69, as shown by way of example in FIG. 5.

Without intending to be bound by theory, it is believed thatprogressively improved results may be achieved, that is, a combinationof—(a) effectively controlled dishing of the fastener along with (b) afastener that is large enough in contact surface area to provideeffective fastening/holding capability; (c) effectively controlledbuckling and foldover of the material forming the fastening member and(d) satisfactory skin coverage—may be achieved, when L0, L25 and L50fall approximately above the following lower limits, expressed as apercentage of L100. Further, in some examples, results may be improvedif L0, L25 and L50 fall approximately below the following upper limits,expressed as a percentage of L100:

/L100 Possible lower limit Possible upper limit L0 25%, or 65%, or 30%,or even 50%, or even 40% 45% L25 30%, or 60%, or 35%, or even 55%, oreven 40% 50% L50 50%, or 100%, 60%, or even 90%, or even 65% 70%

Still referring to FIG. 5, other possible characteristics of the shapeof a fastening member 50 a can be seen. Outermost lateral edges 68, 69each may have profiles defining one or more inflection points 94, atwhich the direction of curvature of the profile changes. Withoutintending to be bound by theory, it is believed that including at leastone such inflection point 94 on at least one of outermost lateral edges68, 69 approximately between lines W25 and W50 is effective fordiffusing longitudinal force components away from such edge, so as toreduce the likelihood of dishing of a fastener zone. Inclusion ofseveral inflection points 94 may increase the effect. Thus, inflectionpoints 94 may be included approximately between lines W25 and W50 oneach of outermost lateral edges 68, 69. Inflection points may also beincluded on one or both of outermost lateral edges 68, 69 approximatelybetween lines W50 and W75. Additional inflection points 94 may be added,as shown by way of example in FIG. 5 along first outermost lateral edge68, suggesting two inflection points 94 approximately between lines W25and W50, and two inflection points 94 approximately between lines W50and W75.

Still referring to FIG. 5, without intending to be bound by theory, itis also believed that, where the fastener comprises or is disposed on apatch of material that adds stiffness to the fastener zone 71, there isan effective relationship between the fastener zone inboard edge lengthLFP, extensible zone outboard edge length LED (measured along outboardextensible zone extent 87), and extensible zone inboard edge length LEP(measured along inboard extensible zone extent line 86). It is believedthat chances of minimizing fastener dishing and buckling/flipping of thepanel region 56 may be enhanced when LFP lies within a range from about50% to about 75%, or from about 55% to about 75%, or from about 60% toabout 75%, of LED. It is also believed that chances of minimizingfastener dishing and buckling/flipping of the fastening member 50 a maybe enhanced when LFP lies within a range from about 35% to about 65% ofLEP, or about 40% to about 50% of LEP, or even about 40% to about 45% ofLEP.

Additional features are apparent from FIGS. 3-6, and may be helpful toreduce the likelihood of panel region buckling/flipping and/or fastenerzone dishing. Referring specifically to FIG. 5, it can be seen that L0(which corresponds to the length of the outboard edge 75 of fastenerzone 71) may be less than LFP (which corresponds to the length of theinboard edge 88 of fastener zone 71). Outboard fastener zone corners 92and 93 are respective points on lateral edges 68, 69 intersected byfastener zone outboard extent 75. Referring to FIG. 6, first and secondfastener zone lateral edge lines 90, 91 may be identified, which connectfirst inboard fastener zone corner 72 with first outboard fastener zonecorner 92, and second inboard fastener zone corner 73 with secondoutboard fastener zone corner 93, respectively. As a result of differinglengths of L0 and LFP (see FIG. 5), referring to FIG. 6, angles α and βare formed by the intersection of lateral edge lines 90, 91 and laterallines 110, 111 that are perpendicular to junction line 51 as shown. Forpurposes herein, these angles α and β are referred to as “fastener zonelateral edge angles.” Without intending to be bound by theory, it isbelieved that shaping the fastening member such that these fastener zonelateral edge angles α and β lie between about 0 degrees and about 30degrees, or between about 2 degrees to about 20 degrees, or betweenabout 2 degrees to about 15 degrees, or even between about 5 degrees and15 degrees, extending outwardly from the lateral lines 110 and 111,substantially helps reduce the likelihood of fastener zone dishing as aresult of the effects of distributing force components within thefastening member, across the fastener zone. Angles α and β need not bethe same. They may be the same, or they may be different. One or bothmay fall within one or more of the ranges set forth above.

Referring again to FIG. 5, for purposes of best positioning of afastener relative to the location at which an applier is likely to graspthe fastening member, it may be desirable to locate fastener 70 suchthat it lies entirely outboard of line W25.

For purposes of minimizing the cost of a fastening member, it may bedesirable to make it as narrow in lateral width as practical, so as toconserve material. However, it may also be desirable to provide forsufficient width of the fastening member as the article is applied to awearer. Referring to FIG. 5, it is believed, therefore, that impartingextensible zone 66 with an unstretched extensible zone width (i.e., thedistance between inboard and outboard extensible zone extents 86, 87when extensible zone 66 is not stretched) that exceeds about 50% of theacting width WA, is effective to satisfy these conflicting purposes. Atthe same time, in the interest of controlling force transmission to thefastener zone, it may be undesirable for the unstretched extensible zonewidth to exceed about 75 percent of the acting width WA. Thus, it may bedesirable that the extensible zone 66 have a width from about 50 percentto about 75 percent of the acting width of the fastening member. It alsomay be desirable that outboard extensible zone extent 87 be locatedbetween W25 and W50.

As noted, the design of an integrally-formed fastening member may insome circumstances promote transfer of longitudinal force components tothe edges of the fastener zone. This may urge the fastener to dish, and,as a result, pop off (suddenly and entirely disengage from) itsassociated landing zone when in use. For this reason, utilizing acombination of fastener and landing zone material (“fasteningcombination”) that exhibits a good resistance to pop-off may be desired.

A test denominated herein the Vertical Pull Test has been devised as arelative indicator of the performance of a fastening combination in use.The Vertical Pull Test measures the force and work, over separationdistance, necessary to separate engaged flat samples of fastener andlanding zone material, in a direction orthogonal to the plane alongwhich the engaged samples lie, after the samples have been engaged witha given force and then displaced relative each other in a directionparallel to such plane (i.e., a shear direction), as a condition of thetest. Without intending to be bound by theory, it is believed that thisShear Displacement, at least in part, simulates an engagement conditionsuch as that which occurs when a hook-type fastener on a fasteningmember is engaged with a landing zone (including the loops component, ofa hook-and-loop fastening system) on a wearable article when it isapplied to a wearer, in that, following engagement of the fastener withthe landing zone, tension in the fastening member pulls the fasteneracross the landing zone slightly (in a shear direction), resulting in arelative displacement along the shear direction between the twocomponents. When the fastener comprises a patch of hooks and the landingzone material comprises an associated loops component, a sheardisplacement affects the interaction of the hooks and loops components.For example, following a shear displacement, loops on the loopscomponent may be caught, gathered and engaged in greater numbers, orengaged more tightly, about hooks, or the loops may be stretched,separated from their substrate, or broken in some number, etc.; whilethe hooks may be deformed to some extent from their relaxed shapes andorientations.

In order to reduce the likelihood that a hooks-type fastener will popoff a landing zone when in use, it may be desirable to select acombination of fastener and landing zone material that exhibits aVertical Peak Load and Greatest Vertical Load at a given Displacementand/or combinations thereof as set forth below. (Herein, these termshave meanings as described in the description of the Vertical Pull Test,below; “Displacement” refers to the distance of separation of thecomponents of a fastening combination following engagement, orthogonalto the plane of engagement; and “Shear Displacement” refers to thedistance by which the samples are displaced in a shear direction alongthe plane of engagement, before the vertical pulling portion of the testcommences.)

Merely because a fastening combination may sustain a given loadorthogonal to the plane of engagement before separating, does not meanthat the combination will be satisfactorily resistive to pop-off.Through use of the Vertical Pull Test described herein, it has beenfound that some examples of fastening combinations may exhibit arelatively brittle engagement, meaning that, once a particularDisplacement is reached at the combination's Vertical Peak Load,exceeding that Displacement causes the vertical load sustained by thecombination to drop relatively quickly to zero—in other words, thefastening combination appears to suddenly “let go”, or “pop” apart.Without intending to be bound by theory, it is believed that, if theVertical Peak Load that these examples can sustain is not sufficientlyhigh, they can be relatively, unsatisfactorily susceptible to pop-offwhen placed in their intended use.

On the other hand, other examples of fastening combinations may have arelatively more elastic or tenacious engagement, meaning that, once aparticular Displacement is reached at the combination's Vertical PeakLoad, exceeding that Displacement does not cause the vertical loadsustained by the combination to drop as quickly to zero—in other words,the fastening combination continues to resist separation, and exhibits aload sustaining capability, after Displacement at Vertical Peak Load isexceeded, that is relatively greater than the capability of the examplesdescribed in the preceding paragraph.

Without intending to be bound by theory, it is believed that, in acomparison between two fastening combinations having equal Vertical PeakLoad capability as measured according to the Vertical Pull Test, the onethat is less brittle, i.e., more elastic and tenacious, will be moreresistive to pop-off when placed in use in a wearable article such as adisposable diaper. Without intending to be bound by theory, it isbelieved that this is true because the more tenacious fasteningcombination is better able to withstand and recover from varying forcesand displacements imposed by the movements of the wearer, while the morebrittle fastening combination is less able to withstand and recover fromsuch varying forces and displacements. At the same time, however, it isbelieved that too much elasticity in the engagement corresponds with aloose arrangement of loops in the loops component and/or hooks that areoverly loose or flexible. This results in a loose engagement that, whenpresent on a wearable article such as a disposable diaper, makes theassociated fastening member susceptible to being caught on surroundingobjects and thereby forcibly separated from the landing zone, as thewearer moves about his/her environment.

It is believed that relative brittleness and/or elasticity/tenacity ofdiffering fastening combinations may be indicated by application of theVertical Pull Test. Further, it is believed that fastening combinationsexhibiting the following performance values in application of theVertical Pull Test are more resistive to pop-off and/or are more tightlyengaged, than fastening combinations falling outside or not exhibitingthese values:

(I) (II) Vertical Pull Test @ 1 mm Vertical Pull Test @ 2 mmProperty/Value Shear Displacement Shear Displacement (A) Vertical PeakLoad (N) at least about 4.0; at least about 5.0; more preferably atleast about more preferably at least about 8.0; or 15; or even morepreferably at least even more preferably at least about 12 about 20 (B)Displacement at Vertical (1) at least about 0.5; (1) at least about 0.5;Peak Load (mm) (only in more preferably at least about more preferablyat least about combination with other 1.0; or 1.0; or values (A), (C)and/or (D), as even more preferably at least even more preferably atleast set forth below) about 1.5; about 1.5; and optionally, preferably,and optionally, preferably, (2) less than about 6.0; (2) less than about5.0; more preferably less than more preferably less than about 4.0; orabout 4.0; or even more preferably less than even more preferably lessthan about 2.0 about 3.0 (C) Greatest Vertical Load at least about 1.5;at least about 3.0; between 0.0 and 0.5 mm more preferably at leastabout more preferably at least about Displacement (N) 3.0; or 6.0; oreven more preferably at least even more preferably at least about 4.5about 10 (D) Greatest Vertical Load at least about 3.0; at least about4.0; between 0.0 and 1.0 mm more preferably at least about morepreferably at least about Displacement (N) 5.0; or 8.0; or even morepreferably at least even more preferably at least about 8.0 about 12

Additionally, without intending to be bound by theory, it is believedthat a fastening combination exhibiting one or more combinations of thevalues (A)-(D) set forth in the table above will be more resistive topop-off during use, than a fastening combination not exhibiting suchcombination of values. Thus, for example, a fastening combination mayexhibit one of the following combinations of values from Column I above,when tested at a 1 mm Shear Displacement:

A Fastening Combination Exhibiting Both

-   -   (A) a Vertical Peak Load of at least about 4.0N, more preferably        at least about 8.0N, or even more preferably at least about 12N;        and    -   (C) a Greatest Vertical Load between 0.0 and 0.5 mm Displacement        of at least about 1.5N, more preferably at least about 3.0N, or        even more preferably at least about 4.5N,    -    in the Vertical Pull Test at a 1 mm Shear Displacement would be        expected to be more resistive to pop-off than a fastening        combination not exhibiting such combination of values.

A Fastening Combination Exhibiting Both

-   -   (A) a Vertical Peak Load of at least about 4.0N, more preferably        at least about 8.0N, or even more preferably at least about 12N;        and    -   (D) a Greatest Vertical Load between 0.0 and 1.0 mm Displacement        of at least about 3.0N, more preferably at least about 5.0N, or        even more preferably at least about 8.0N,    -    in the Vertical Pull Test at a 1 mm Shear Displacement would be        expected to be more resistive to pop-off than a fastening        combination not exhibiting such combination of values.

A Fastening Combination Exhibiting

-   -   (C) a Greatest Vertical Load between 0.0 and 0.5 mm Displacement        of at least about 1.5N, more preferably at least about 3N, or        even more preferably at least about 4.5N; and    -   (B)(1) a Displacement at Vertical Peak Load of at least about        0.5 mm, more preferably at least about 1.0 mm, even more        preferably at least about 1.5 mm;    -    and optionally, preferably    -   (B)(2) a Displacement at Vertical Peak Load of less than about        6.0 mm, more preferably less than about 4.0 mm, and even more        preferably less than about 2.0 mm,    -    in the Vertical Pull Test at a 1 mm Shear Displacement would be        expected to be more resistive to pop-off than a fastening        combination not exhibiting such combination of values.

A fastening combination exhibiting

-   -   (D) a Greatest Vertical Load between 0.0 and 1.0 mm Displacement        of at least about 3.0N, more preferably at least about 5.0N, or        even more preferably at least about 8.0N; and    -   (B)(1) a Displacement at Vertical Peak Load of at least about        0.5 mm, more preferably at least about 1.0 mm, even more        preferably at least about 1.5 mm;    -    and optionally, preferably    -   (B)(2) a Displacement at Vertical Peak Load of less than about        6.0 mm, more preferably less than about 4.0 mm, and even more        preferably less than about 2.0 mm,    -    in the Vertical Pull Test at a 1 mm Shear Displacement would be        expected to be more resistive to pop-off than a fastening        combination not exhibiting such combination of values.

A Fastening Combination Exhibiting

-   -   (A) a Vertical Peak Load of at least about 4.0N, more preferably        at least about 8.0N, or even more preferably at least about 12N;        and    -   (C) a Greatest Vertical Load between 0.0 and 0.5 mm Displacement        of at least about 1.5N, more preferably at least about 3.0N, or        even more preferably at least about 4.5N; and    -   (B)(1) a Displacement at Vertical Peak Load of at least about        0.5 mm, more preferably at least about 1.0 mm, even more        preferably at least about 1.5 mm;    -    and optionally, preferably    -   (B)(2) a Displacement at Vertical Peak Load of less than about        6.0 mm, more preferably less than about 4.0 mm, and even more        preferably less than about 2.0 mm,    -    in the Vertical Pull Test at a 1 mm Shear Displacement would be        expected to be more resistive to pop-off than a fastening        combination not exhibiting such combination of values.

A Fastening Combination Exhibiting

-   -   (A) a Vertical Peak Load of at least about 4.0N, more preferably        at least about 8.0N, or even more preferably at least about 12N;        and    -   (D) a Greatest Vertical Load between 0.0 and 1.0 mm Displacement        of at least about 3.0N, more preferably at least about 5.0N, or        even more preferably at least about 8.0N; and    -   (B)(1) a Displacement at Vertical Peak Load of at least about        0.5 mm, more preferably at least about 1.0 mm, even more        preferably at least about 1.5 mm;    -   and optionally, preferably    -   (B)(2) a Displacement at Vertical Peak Load of less than about        6.0 mm, more preferably less than about 4.0 mm, and even more        preferably less than about 2.0 mm,    -    in the Vertical Pull Test at a 1 mm Shear Displacement would be        expected to be more resistive to pop-off than a fastening        combination not exhibiting such combination of values.

Similarly, a fastening combination may exhibit combinations of valuesanalogous to those described immediately above, but from Column H in thetable above, when tested at a 2 mm Shear Displacement.

Fastening combinations having one or more of these combinations ofvalues are expected to have high enough peak load sustaining capabilityfor wearable articles such as disposable diapers, coupled with enoughtenacity in the engagement, to resist pop-off under normal conditions,and a suitably tight engagement.

Additionally, without intending to be bound by theory, it is believedthat a fastening combination exhibiting a value (A), (C) or (D) as setforth in the table above that is equal to or greater for a ShearDisplacement of 2 mm than for a Shear Displacement of 1 mm would beexpected to be more resistive to pop-off than a fastening combinationexhibiting values that do not satisfy this relationship. It is believedthat a fastening combination exhibiting such a relationship of values isbetter able to accommodate varying shear displacements as are imposed inuse by, e.g., varying sizes of wearers and/or varying tensions placed onfastening members by persons applying the associated wearable articles.Thus, for example:

-   -   A fastening combination exhibiting (A) a Vertical Peak Load of        at least about 4.0N in the Vertical Pull Test at a 1 mm Shear        Displacement (Column I); and (A) a Vertical Peak Load of equal        to or greater than about 4.0N in the Vertical Pull Test at a 2        mm Shear Displacement (e.g., Column II), would be expected to be        more resistive to pop-off than a fastening combination not        exhibiting such relationship of values.    -   A fastening combination exhibiting (C) a Greatest Vertical Load        between 0.0 and 0.5 mm Displacement of at least about 1.5N in        the Vertical Pull Test at a 1 mm Shear Displacement (Column I);        and (C) a Vertical Peak Load of equal to or greater than about        1.5N in the Vertical Pull Test at a 2 mm Shear Displacement        (e.g., Column II), would be expected to be more resistive to        pop-off than a fastening combination not exhibiting such        relationship of values.    -   A fastening combination exhibiting (D) a Greatest Vertical Load        between 0.0 and 1.0 mm Displacement of at least about 3.0N in        the Vertical Pull Test at a 1 mm Shear Displacement (Column I);        and (D) a Vertical Peak Load of equal to or greater than about        3.0N in the Vertical Pull Test at a 2 mm Shear Displacement        (e.g., Column II), would be expected to be more resistive to        pop-off than a fastening combination not exhibiting such        relationship of values.

Additional examples of relationships of properties analogous to thoseimmediately above exist, for the more preferred and even more preferredvalues set forth in Column I. For example, a fastening combinationexhibiting (A) a Vertical Peak Load of at least about 8.0N in theVertical Pull Test at a 1 mm Shear Displacement (Column I); and (A) aVertical Peak Load of equal to or greater than about 8.0N in theVertical Pull Test at a 2 mm Shear Displacement (e.g., Column II), wouldbe expected to be more resistive to pop-off than a fastening combinationnot exhibiting such relationship of values . . . and so on, for the evenmore preferred values, and relationships of properties (C) and (D), asdescribed immediately above.

Without intending to be bound by theory, it is believed further, thatusing a fastening combination exhibiting values in the Vertical PullTest as described above may also have a synergistic effect, whencombined with other features such as the shape characteristics describedabove and/or fastener zone Stiffness characteristics described below,with regard to avoiding undesirable fastening combination disengagement.

Increasing the Stiffness of fastener zone 71 may serve to help reducethe likelihood or extent of fastener dishing. A fastener zone 71 havinga Stiffness of at least about 1,500 N/m may be helpful. As also notedabove, however, effecting an excessive increase in the stiffness offastener zone 71 may be undesirable because it may result in the feel ofan unyielding object against the diaper at the wearer's abdomen, and maybe a source of discomfort for the wearer, particularly when the weareris sitting and/or bending forward at the hips. Additionally, increasingstiffness in the fastener zone may necessitate increasing materialthickness and/or density, adding cost. A fastener zone 71 may be deemedtoo stiff under certain circumstances, for these reasons. Thus, it maybe desirable to have an upper limit of, for example, 9,000 N/m, on theamount of Stiffness of the fastener zone 71 that is imparted.

At the same time, imparting a Stiffness to fastener zone 71 above someminimum value may by itself be insufficient to satisfactorily preventdishing. Without intending to be bound by theory, however, it isbelieved that the shaping of fastening member 50 as described above maybe unexpectedly synergistic in combination with a limited amount ofStiffness of the fastener zone 71. In other words, without intending tobe bound by theory, it is believed that the shaping described abovemagnifies the effect of adding to the Stiffness of fastener zone 71, inreducing or preventing dishing. Accordingly, it is believed that dishingcan be effectively and satisfactorily reduced or prevented if fastenerzone 71 has a Stiffness of at least about 1,500 N/m, or 2,500 N/m, or3,500 N/n, or 4,000 N/m, and the fastening member has one or more of theshape and construction characteristics identified and described herein.In order to reduce the likelihood that the fastener zone is perceived astoo stiff, possibly uncomfortably so, by the wearer and/or applier,however, it may be desirable that the fastener zone has a Stiffness ofno more than about 9000 N/m, or 7,500 N/m, or even 6,000 N/m.

Referring again to FIGS. 3 and 4, fastener zone 71 may overlap one ormore underlying layers of materials in end region 55 which may bothcontribute to Stiffness of fastener zone 71, and may also extend fromfastener zone 71 in an inboard direction. An intermediate region 57 mayinclude such underlying material(s), and have its own Stiffness. Ifintermediate region 57 is imparted with an intermediate Stiffness thatis less than the Stiffness of fastener zone 71, but greater than theStiffness of panel region 56 and/or extensible zone 66, this may havethe advantages of bearing and resisting longitudinal force componentsthat develop within the panel region 56, and preventing their transferto fastener zone 71, thus reducing the likelihood of dishing of fastener70, as well as reducing the likelihood of buckling/flipping in panelregion 56, without substantially compromising wearer comfort afforded bya highly-extensible, pliable panel region 56. Thus, for example,intermediate region 57, or a portion thereof, may be imparted with anintermediate Stiffness of between about 200 N/m and about 1000 N/m, orbetween about 300 N/m and about 750 N/m, or even between about 400 N/mand about 600 N/m. Intermediate region 57 or a portion thereof, as wellas panel region 56, may be imparted with any additional Stiffnesscharacteristics, including variations and gradients thereof, asdescribed in co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 11/895,169.

A fastening member may have an extensible zone 66 formed of a stretchlaminate that has been activated by mono-axial stretching of the sectionof the laminate which contains the laminated-in elastomeric materiallayer 64, or a portion thereof, in a manner described in more detail,for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,741, and in published PCTapplications Nos. WO 1992/015446 and WO 1992/015444, which areincorporated herein by reference. In addition, extensible zone 66 mayinclude force-focusing features such as described in U.S. PublishedApplication No. 2007/0142815. Referring to FIG. 7, a fastening member 50a may have an extensible zone 66 having regions of varying moduli ofelasticity. For example, extensible zone 66 may have a relatively highermodulus region 101, and relatively lower modulus regions 100 assuggested. High modulus region 101 may be disposed at or about thelongitudinal center of extensible zone 66 as suggested in FIG. 7, or maybe disposed at other locations. In the example suggested in FIG. 7,however, relatively high modulus region 101 will bear a greaterproportion of lateral tension forces per surface area, thus “focusing”lateral tension forces toward the longitudinal center of the fasteningmember. Without intending to be bound by theory, it is believed that, asa result, stresses acting along longitudinally outermost edges 68, 69are reduced while overall lateral tension in the fastening member ismaintained such that the article maintains good fit, while likelihood offastener zone dishing may be reduced. Other examples of materialsincluding zones of differing moduli are described in, for example, PCTApplication Nos. WO 2007/069227 and WO 2008/084449.

In addition to being relatively more prone to buckling/flipping, arelatively highly extensible, more pliable material may be less robust,and have less resistance to tearing. This may become an issue, forexample, when an applier tugs on end region 55 in order to apply thediaper to a wearer. If the applier tugs with sufficient lateral force,material forming panel region 56 may tear, particularly at locationswhere stress concentrates, such as, for example, where the fasteningmember shortens to an end region and/or a discontinuity in fasteningmember construction results in an abrupt transition from relatively morepliable portion of the fastening member to a relatively stiffer portionof the fastening member. Referring to FIG. 8, in one example, fastenerzone 71 may comprise a patch of material which, when affixed to asubstrate, creates a combination of the patch material and the substratehaving greater stiffness than that of adjoining substrate alone. Thus,when fastening member 50 a is loaded under lateral tension along stretchdirection 67, stresses may concentrate along fastener zone inboard edge88. Additionally, where, as in the example depicted in FIG. 8, thefastener 70 may occupy a shortened end region, stresses may beespecially concentrated in the substrate along first and secondlongitudinally outermost lateral edges 68, 69, at first and secondinboard fastener zone corners 72, 73. As the manufacturer increases theamount of stretch and/or pliability for the selected material formingpanel region 56 by reducing basis weight, the likelihood of tearing atfirst and/or second inboard fastener zone corners 72, 73 may increase.

In order to improve the ability of the fastening member to withstandand/or diffuse such stress concentrations and reduce the likelihood ofsuch tearing, the manufacturer may form end region 55 of a material orcombination of materials that has greater tensile strength at least inthe lateral direction, or in several directions, than the material(s)forming the extensible zone. As another option, the manufacturer may adda reinforcing layer to end region 55 to form a laminate section at endregion 55 having greater tensile strength in at least the lateraldirection, or in several directions, than the material(s) forming theextensible zone. Either approach may be used to form a strengthened endregion 155. (For purposes of this description, “strengthened,” withrespect to an end region of a fastening member, means an end region thathas greater tensile strength in at least the lateral direction, than thematerial(s) forming the extensible zone).

FIG. 9 schematically depicts a simplified lateral, exploded crosssection of one example of a fastening member 50 a having a strengthenedend region 155. As shown in FIG. 9, a fastening member 50 a may have anextensible zone 66 between inboard and outboard extensible zone extents86, 87, an inextensible inboard zone 83, and an inextensible end region55. A fastening member 50 a may be constructed in several layers and mayhave one or two surface layers 62, 63, which may consist of a nonwovenmaterial, and an elastomeric material layer 64 laminated to and/orbetween the one or two surface layers 62, 63, to form a stretchlaminate. Suitable examples of stretch laminates and elastomeric filmsfor forming panel region 56 and/or extensible zone 66 include thosedescribed in copending U.S. Published Application No. US 2007/0293111.The one or two surface layers 62, 63 may be wider along stretchdirection 67 than the elastomeric material layer 64, and may be bondedtogether in regions forming end region 55 and inboard zone 83. Theinboard zone 83 may be formed of only the two surface layers 62, 63bonded together. The end region 55 may be reinforced by a reinforcinglayer 61 having reinforcing layer inboard edge 89, thereby formingstrengthened end region 155. Reinforcing layer 61 may be disposed in anoverlapping zone 84, in overlapping relationship with elastomericmaterial layer 64. The width of the reinforcing layer 61 and/or thewidth of the elastomeric material layer 64 may be adjusted so that theiredges overlap to form an overlapping zone 84 of desired width. Thereinforcing layer 61 may be formed of, for example, a nonwoven material.Inclusion of reinforcing layer 61 may be used to impart greater tensilestrength in at least the lateral direction, to end region 55, than itwould have absent a reinforcing layer. The reinforcing layer 61 may bedisposed between the surface layers 62, 63 and beneath the elastomericmaterial layer as suggested in FIG. 9, or may be disposed between thesurface layers 62, 63 and above the elastomeric material layer, or onthe outside surface of either of surface layers 62, 63. In anotherexample (not shown), strengthened end region 155 may comprise one layer,or a plurality of layers of material forming a laminate, that isdiscrete from material forming panel region 56, bonded at its inboardedge to the outboard edge of an adjoining material forming panel region56 and/or extensible zone 66, or component thereof. A fastener 70 may beaffixed to an outside surface of strengthened end region 155. Fastener70, and layers 61, 62, 63 and 64 may be laminated together in a laminatestructure, by any suitable adhesive and/or other bonding laminatingtechnique(s). Reinforcing layer 61 and/or strengthened end region 155may be formed of materials selected so as to impart, or contribute toimparting, a desired amount of Stiffness to fastener zone 71 and/orintermediate region 57, as described above.

In the example depicted in FIG. 9, the extensible zone 66 may benarrower in width than the elastomeric material layer 64, and end at alocation inboard of the overlapping zone 84, providing a relativelyinelastic portion including overlapping zone 84, for anchoring thereinforcing layer 61 to elastomeric material layer 64 and transitioningto the strengthened end region.

Referring again to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, reinforcing layer 61 may be sizedso as to extend from end region 55 in an inboard direction to formstrengthened end region 155, ending on the inboard side at reinforcinglayer inboard edge 89. Reinforcing layer 61 may have a length LR alongits inboard edge 89 extending between first and second longitudinallyoutermost lateral edges 68, 69, and a width WR from the fastener zoneoutboard edge 75 to reinforcing layer inboard edge 89.

In order to ensure an acceptable level of consumer satisfaction with itsproduct, the manufacturer may wish to design and manufacture fasteningmember 50 a so that it will sustain a particular lateral tension loadbefore any failure in the material from tearing,delamination/separation, breaking of bonds, etc. For fastening membersof the type that may be used on diapers, the manufacturer may requireand design fastening members to sustain, for example, at least 18 N, 24N, 30 N or even 34 N of lateral peak tension load before failing, whenpulled at a speed sufficient to accomplish a strain rate in theextensible zone of between about 5 seconds⁻¹ to about 40 seconds⁻¹. Theweakest location of a particular material forming panel region 56 maybe, for example, along its longitudinally shortest dimension, i.e., thepoint at which the smallest longitudinal cross section of material issubject to the stress required to sustain the lateral load (withoutsupport from any stiffening or reinforcing layer). In some examples suchas depicted in FIGS. 8 and 9, and in which a stretch laminate isactivated as described above, surface layers 62, 63 may be laterallyweakened in the activation process. Thus, in the example depicted inFIG. 8, the weakest portion of fastening member 50 a might in somecircumstances be along reinforcing layer inboard edge 89, or along, forexample, outboard extensible zone extent line 87—at which a combinationof activation-weakened material and relatively small longitudinaldimension of extensible zone 66 exists. Accordingly, when a strengthenedend region 155 of a fastening member 50 a having a layered constructionas depicted in FIG. 9, is desirably sized, failure of materials formingthe fastening member 50 a under lateral loading might be expected tooccur, on average, at a location proximate to the strengthened endregion/reinforcing layer inboard edge, rather than elsewhere on thefastening member. It will be appreciated that a width for a reinforcinglayer 61 or a strengthened end region 155 that substantially exceedsthis desirably-sized value may compromise the extensibility of thefastening member, reduce the width of the extensible zone, or may beunneeded to provide the required design strength, and thus, addunnecessary material cost, while a width less than this value mayincrease the likelihood of failure under a lateral load below theintended design load.

Thus, in the examples depicted in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, reinforcing layer61 may be sized so as to have an affixed width WR overlapping andaffixed to other layer(s) in overlapping zone 84, and so that itsaffixed inboard edge 89 (and thus, the inboard edge of strengthened endregion 155) lies along a line at which the affixed length along inboardedge 89 is of a length LR that is from about 66 percent to about 80percent, or from about 69 percent to about 77 percent, or even fromabout 71 percent to about 75 percent, of the length L of the fasteningmember along junction line 51. Without intending to be bound by theory,it is believed that a reinforcing layer/strengthened end region sizedwithin one or more of these ranges desirably bears and/or reduces stressconcentrations about the fastener zone when the fastening member isunder lateral tension load, and achieves a satisfactory balance betweenminimizing the likelihood that the fastening member will tear underlateral loading in an amount less that its intended design provides,while at the same time minimizing added material costs resulting frominclusion of a strengthened end region.

Other types, and methods of making, a strengthened end region, aredescribed in, for example, PCT Applications Nos. WO 2003/039426 and WO2004/082918.

In order to manufacture a fastening member having the features describedherein, a member having the shape and dimensions shown in FIG. 10A mightbe cut from a suitable combination laminate, having the layers shown inFIG. 10B. All numerical values shown in FIG. 10A are in millimeters.(The drawing is not to scale.) In cross section the exemplary fasteningmember may have the general layered configuration depicted in FIG. 10B.The laminate assembly from which the fastening ear might be cut,including first surface layer 62, elastomeric material layer 64, secondsurface layer 63 and reinforcing layer 61 might be formed of materialsas follows:

Layer Material Fastener 70 APLIX 963, available from Aplix Fastener UKLtd., Suffold, England Adhesive (between hot melt adhesive, BOSTIKH2988F01, fastener 70 and available from Bostik, Middleton, MA, appliedreinforcing at about 150 gsm (grams per square meter) layer 61)Reinforcing Layer 61 40 gsm monolayer spunbond polypropylene nonwoven,PROWEB, available from Rheinische Kunststoffwerke, Gronau GermanyAdhesive (between hot melt adhesive, BOSTIK H2511, available reinforcinglayer 61 from Bostik, Middleton, MA, applied at about and first surface40 gsm layer 62) First Surface Layer 62 31 gsm high elongation carded(HEC), point- bonded nonwoven, FPN 332D available from Fiberweb,Simpsonville, SC Adhesive (between hot melt adhesive, BOSTIK H2511,available first surface layer from Bostik, Middleton, MA, applied atabout 62 and elastomeric 10 gsm material layer 64) Elastomeric Material62 gsm styrene-butane-styrene film, Layer 64 SOLASTIC, available fromNordenia International AG, Gronau, Germany Adhesive (between hot meltadhesive, BOSTIK H2511, available elastomeric material from Bostik,Middleton, MA, applied at about layer 64 and second 10 gsm surface layer63) Second Surface 31 gsm high elongation carded (HEC), point- Layer 63bonded nonwoven, FPN 332D available from Fiberweb, Simpsonville, SC

Many variations in specific materials and construction approaches may beused to achieve the desired stiffness and stretch levels requiredherein. Other examples of materials and construction approaches areshown in U.S. Published Application Nos. 2007/0143972 and 2007/0157441.Examples of approaches for rendering the extensible zone extensible aredescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,107,364 and 4,834,741, and in publishedPCT applications Nos. WO 1992/015446 and WO 1992/015444.

Test Methods

Stiffness Test

Stiffness is measured using a constant rate of extension tensile testerwith computer interface (a suitable instrument is an MTS Alliance underTestWorks 4 software, as available from MTS Systems Corp., Eden Prairie,Minn.) fitted with a 10 N load cell. A plunger blade 2100, shown in FIG.12 (front view) and FIG. 13 (side view), is used for the upper movabletest fixture. Base support platforms 2200, shown in FIG. 11, are used asthe lower stationary test fixture. All testing is performed in aconditioned room maintained at about 23 C±2 C and about 50%±2% relativehumidity. Herein, width and length of the test specimen are a lateralwidth and longitudinal length using the directional conventionscorresponding to the fastening member from which the specimen is cut, as“lateral width” and “longitudinal length” are defined herein.

Components of the plunger 2100 are made of a light weight material suchas aluminum to maximize the available load cell capacity. The shaft 2101is machined to fit the tensile tester and has a locking collar 2102 tostabilize the plunger and maintain alignment orthogonal to base supportplatforms 2204. The blade 2103, is 115 mm long 2108 by 65 mm high 2107by 3.25 mm wide 2109, and has a material contact edge with a continuousradius of 1.625 mm. The bracket 2104 is fitted with set screws 2105 thatare used to level the blade and a main set screw 2106 to firmly hold itin place after adjustment.

The bottom fixture 2200 is attached to the tensile tester with the shaft2201 and locking collar 2202. Two movable support platforms 2204 aremounted on a rail 2203. Each test surface 2205 is 85 mm wide 2206 by 115mm long (into plane of drawing) and made of polished stainless steel soas to have a minimal coefficient of friction. Each platform has adigital position monitor 2208 which reads the individual platformpositions, and set screws 2207 to lock their position after adjustment.The two platforms 2204 are square at the gap edge and the plate edgesshould be parallel front to back. The two platforms form a gap 2209 withan adjustable gap width 2210.

Accurately (±0.02 mm) align the plunger blade 2103 so that it isorthogonal to the top surface of the support platforms 2204 and exhibitsno skew relative to their gap edges. Using the position monitors 2208,accurately set the gap 2210 to 8.00±0.02 mm between the two gap edges ofthe support platforms 2204, with the plunger blade 2103 accurately(±0.02 mm) centered in the gap. Program the tensile tester for acompression test. Set the gauge length from the bottom of the plungerblade 2103 to the top surface of the support platform 2204 to 15 mm.

Set the crosshead to lower at 500 mm/min for a distance of 25 mm. Setthe data acquisition rate to 200 Hz.

Precondition specimens at about 23 C±2 C and about 50%±2% relativehumidity for 2 hours prior to testing. Die cut a test specimen 13 mm inwidth by 25.4 mm in length. If the fastening member from which the testspecimen is to be cut does not have sufficient material for a 13 mm-widetest specimen, use the full width that is available.

Examine the specimen for any exposed adhesive and deactivate any exposedadhesive by applying baby powder to it as necessary. Place the specimenflat onto the surface of the support platform 2204 over the gap 2209with the fastener facing upward. If the particular specimen does notcontain a fastener (for example, a specimen cut from the intermediateregion), orient the specimen such that the fastener side is facing up.Center the specimen across the gap; its length should be parallel to thegap width 2210 and its width should be perpendicular to the gap width2210. Zero the load cell; start the tensile tester and the dataacquisition.

Program the software to calculate the maximum peak bending force (N) andStiffness (N/m) from the constructed force (N) verses extension (m)curve. Stiffness is calculated as the slope of the bendingforce/extension curve for the linear region of the curve (see FIG. 14),using a minimum line segment of at least 25% of the total peak bendingforce to calculate the slope. If the width of the element is not 13 mm,normalize the actual width to 13 mm as follows:

Stiffness_((actual width))=[Stiffness_((13 mm))/13 mm]×actual width (mm)

peak bending force_((actual width))=[peak bending force_((13 mm))/13mm]×actual width (mm)

Report peak bending force to the nearest 0.1 N and the stiffness to thenearest 0.1 n/m.

Extensibility Test

Extensibility of the fastening member is measured using a constant rateof extension tensile tester with computer interface (a suitableinstrument is a MTS Alliance under TestWorks 4 software, as availablefrom MTS Systems Corp., Eden Prairie, Minn.) fitted with a suitable loadcell. The load cell should be selected to operate with 10% and 90% ofits stated maximum load. All testing is performed in a conditioned roommaintained at about 23 C±2 C and about 50%±2% relative humidity. Herein,width and length of the specimen are a lateral width and longitudinallength as defined herein. Precondition specimens at about 23 C±2 C andabout 50%±2% relative humidity for 2 hours prior to testing.

Prepare fastening member for testing as follows:

-   -   1. If the fastening member is attached to an article, cut it        free from the article at a location sufficiently inboard of the        junction line that a tensile tester's grip can sufficiently        grasp the specimen for the testing.    -   2. Identify the junction line (51 as described in examples        herein) and mark a line on the fastening member coincident with        the junction line (for example using a fine point pen, such as a        fine point Sharpie).    -   3. Identify the fastening zone inboard extent (88 as described        in examples herein) and mark a line on the fastening member        coincident with the fastening zone inboard extent (for example        using a fine point pen, such as a fine point Sharpie).    -   4. Lay the fastening member on a substantially flat, horizontal        surface and measure width WS as described herein, with no        lateral tension force applied to the fastening member.    -   5. Measure lengths LFP and LEP (as described in examples herein)        to the nearest 1 mm, with a steel ruler traceable to NIST.    -   6. Along fastener zone inboard extent, mark the fastener zone        longitudinal midpoint (measure length LFP (as described in        examples), the midpoint is at ½ of LFP.        Test the specimen:    -   1. Insert the outboard end of the fastening member into the        upper clamp in the tensile tester such that the clamp is        centered in the tensile tester fixture, the clamp width is at        least as wide as the length dimension LFP of the fastening        member, the face of the clamp (once it grips the specimen) is        aligned with the fastener zone inboard extent 88 to within 1 mm,        the longitudinal midpoint of the fastener zone inboard extent 88        is aligned with the center of the clamp, and the unclamped        portion of the fastening member hangs freely downward from the        upper clamp.    -   2. Insert the inner end of the fastening member into the lower        clamp in the tensile tester. The lower clamp width is chosen        such that no portion of the fastening member extends beyond the        width of the clamp. The face of the clamp (once it grips the        specimen) is aligned with the junction line to within 1 mm, and        the specimen is oriented such that if a lateral line were drawn        from the fastener zone longitudinal midpoint, it would extend        vertically and align with the center of the fixture holding the        lower clamp.    -   3. Extend the jaws of the tensile tester such that the distance        between the face of the upper clamp and face of the lower clamp        is equal to WS. Set gage length equal to WS.    -   4. Zero the crosshead location and load.    -   5. Set the tensile tester to extend the specimen at a rate of        254 mm/minute and collect data at a frequency of at least 100        hz.    -   6. Initiate the test such that the tensile tester's clamp        extends the specimen at the defined rate and data is collected        into a data file.

Calculate the Results:

-   -   1. Determine from the data the overall extensibility under load        at 8N, calculated as

100%×[Distance Extended from Zero-point at 8 N load/WS (at no lateraltension load)].

-   -   2. Determine from the data the extensibility under load per        fastener zone length at 2.1 N/cm-LFP, calculated as

100%×[Distance Extended from Zero-point at 2.1 N/cm-LFP load/WS (at nolateral tension load)],

-   -    where 2.1 N/cm-LFP load=2.1 N per centimeter length of LFP, for        example, if LFP is 3 cm, load of 2.1 N/cm-LFP=6.3 N.    -   3. Determine from the data the extensibility under load per        extensible zone length at 1.0 N/cm-LEP, calculated as

100%×[Distance Extended from Zero-point at 1.0 N/cm-LEP load/WS (at nolateral tension load)],

-   -    where 1.0 N/cm-LFP load=1.0 N per centimeter length of LEP, for        example, if LEP is 6 cm, load of 1.0 N/cm-LFP=6.0 N.

Dimension Methods

Various dimensions and ratios thereof are specified herein. Eachdimension is measured according to the following method. All testing isperformed in a conditioned room maintained at about 23 C±2 C and about50%±2% relative humidity. Herein, width and length of the specimen are alateral width and longitudinal length as defined herein. Preconditionspecimens at about 23 C±2 C and about 50%±2% relative humidity for 2hours prior to testing.

Prepare fastening member for testing as follows:

-   -   1. Lay the fastener on a substantially flat, horizontal surface.    -   2. Identify and mark any needed reference lines to enable the        measurement (such as the junction line, L0, L25, L75, L100,        etc.) (for example using a fine point pen, such as a fine point        Sharpie).    -   3. Measure each needed dimension to the nearest 1 mm using a        steel ruler traceable to NIST.    -   4. Calculate any needed ratios as follows: Ratio=100%×[First        Measurement/Second Measurement]. For example, the ratio of the        length of L25 relative to L100=100%×[Length of Line L25/Length        of Line L100].

Vertical Pull Test

This test is designed to measure the force, displacement as a functionof force (and vice versa), and/or work necessary to separate a sample ofa hooks fastener component from engagement with a loops component, whichcomponents may be used to form a hook-and-loop fastening system, such asoften found on wearable articles, including but not limited to manykinds of disposable diapers. In some instances, the loops component maybe the same as surrounding outer materials on the article; in somewearable article designs the nature of the outer material alone issufficient to provide a fibrous surface that is effectively engageablewith a hooks component, to provide the desired attachment.

Test Sample Preparation

Prepare hooks fastener and landing zone material samples for testing asfollows:

Landing Zone Material

-   -   1. Identify the landing zone portion of the outer surface of the        article. (For illustrative example, see FIG. 15B, landing zone        22.)        -   a) If the landing zone portion is formed of a layer of            material laminated over an underlying layer, remove the            landing zone material without damaging it. Use a freeze            spray as necessary to weaken bonding by any laminating            adhesives, to facilitate separation of the landing zone            material (“LZ material”) from the underlying layer.        -   b) If the layer forming the landing zone cannot be separated            from the underlying material without damaging it, or if the            landing zone is formed of material that is the same as            surrounding material outside the landing zone, cut out a            portion of the material of a size sufficient to provide the            samples required by the steps below. To the extent possible            without damage, remove any waist feature or core material            that is beneath the landing zone to reduce bulk created by            layers. The remaining material will be the removed landing            zone material (“LZ material”).    -   2. Lay the LZ material flat on a table, loops side down.        Determine the ordinary direction of pull by the fastening member        on the landing zone when the article is in use. Using a        permanent felt-tip marker (such as a SHARPIE) and a ruler, draw        substantially straight arrows on the LZ material, indicating the        ordinary direction of pull on the landing zone, in several        locations about the material. (If the wearable article is a        diaper, this direction will be perpendicular to and pointing        away from the longitudinal axis of the diaper: Using the marker        and a ruler, draw a longitudinal (relative the article) line        through the center of the LZ material, and draw several arrows        on the material substantially perpendicular to the line and        pointing away from it, on either side of the line.) (For        illustrative example, see FIG. 15C, LZ material 22 a,        longitudinal line 22 b, arrows 22 c.)    -   3. Prepare double-side tape to join the LZ material to the        fixture as follows: Join the adhesive side of 3M 1524 Transfer        Adhesive to the adhesive side of a strip of 3M 9589 Double        Coated Film Tape to form a double-sided tape laminate. (In the        event either or both of these products are not available at the        time of the test, equivalent product(s) sufficient to adhere the        sample to the underlying surface and resist delamination in the        test, as described below, may be substituted.)    -   4. Lay the prepared double-side tape flat on a table, with the        3M 1524 Transfer Adhesive side up. Remove the release backing to        expose the adhesive of the 3M 1524 Transfer Adhesive. Gently lay        the LZ material, loops side up, onto the exposed adhesive        surface of the double-sided tape laminate. Apply substantially        even pressure to the LZ material to press it against the        adhesive surface, using a pressure of about 25 g/cm²±10% (an        appropriate weight having a flat bottom surface may be used).        The LZ material should be applied to the tape evenly to avoid        forming bubbles or wrinkles. If bubbles or wrinkles having a        dimension of greater than about 3 mm in any direction are        formed, do not use the portion(s) bearing bubbles or wrinkles in        any samples for testing.    -   5. Cut substantially rectangular samples of the LZ material/tape        laminate at least about 50.8 mm by at least about 22 mm, with        the shorter sides substantially parallel with the direction of        the arrows. These will be the LZ Samples.

Hook Material

-   -   1. Remove the hook patch (illustrative example of hook patch 70        a shown in FIG. 15A) from the fastening member without damaging        the hook patch. Use a freeze spray as necessary to weaken        bonding by any laminating adhesives, to facilitate separation of        the hook patch from the underlying layer. If it is not possible        to remove the hook patch from the underlying layer without        damaging it, then simply cut around its outer edges to sever it        from the remaining portions of the fastening member. Lay the        separated hook patch on a table, hooks facing down.    -   2. Prepare double-side tape to join the LZ material to the        fixture as follows: Join the adhesive side of 3M 1524 Transfer        Adhesive to the adhesive side of a strip of 3M 9589 Double        Coated Film Tape to form a double-sided tape laminate. (In the        event either or both of these products are not available at the        time of the test, equivalent product(s) sufficient to adhere the        sample to the underlying surface and resist delamination in the        test, as described below, may be substituted.)    -   3. Lay the prepared double-side tape flat on a table, with the        3M 1524 Transfer Adhesive side up. Remove the release backing to        expose the adhesive of the 3M 1524 Transfer Adhesive. Gently lay        the hook patch, hooks side up, onto the exposed adhesive surface        of the double-sided tape laminate. Apply substantially even        pressure to the hook patch to press it against the adhesive        surface, using a pressure of about 75 g/cm²±10% (an appropriate        weight having a flat bottom surface may be used). The hook patch        should be applied to the tape evenly to avoid forming bubbles or        wrinkles. If bubbles or wrinkles having a dimension of greater        than about 3 mm in any direction are formed, do not use the        portion(s) bearing bubbles or wrinkles in any samples for        testing.    -   4. Cut one or more substantially rectangular samples (size of        hook patch permitting) from the hook patch/tape laminate 13 mm        by 25 mm, ±0.25 mm, with the shorter sides substantially        parallel the direction of pull of the hook patch when in        ordinary use. These will be the Hook Samples.

Samples of respective landing zone material and hook material that havenot been cut from finished manufactured wearable articles, but rather,taken from supplies of such materials prior to manufacture of articles,can be prepared in a manner similar to that set forth above. Thematerials should be oriented and cut according to the orientation inwhich they would appear in a finished product, i.e., with shorter sidesof the respective rectangular samples parallel with the direction ofpull of the hooks against the loops.

Test Equipment

A constant rate of extension tensile tester with computer interface(such as a MTS SYNERGIE 200 tensile tester, controlled with TestWorks 4software, as available from MTS Systems Corp., Eden Prairie, Minn., orsuitable equivalent), fitted with an appropriate load cell is used forthis test. The load cell should be selected to be operated within 10%and 90% of its stated maximum load. The tensile tester is set up suchthat when the crosshead moves downward and compresses samples, anegative force reading is generated to indicate compression.

For this test, two custom fixtures must be fabricated. Referring to FIG.16A, the first fixture 503 includes a rectangular foot 520 that attachesto the load cell of the tester, and has a downward-facing planar surface522 orthogonal to the path of travel of the crosshead, onto which aHooks Sample is to be affixed. The second fixture 504 attaches to thebottom, stationary mount of the tensile tester, and consists of a base513 and a solenoid-activated sliding plate 510 having an upward-facingplanar surface 511 orthogonal to the path of travel of the crosshead,onto which the LZ Sample is to be affixed. Thus, when the test isperformed, the loops side of the LZ Sample is oriented facing andparallel to, the hooks side of the Hooks Sample.

Still referring to FIG. 16A, the upper fixture 503 consists of arectangular foot 520 affixed to a suitable mounting device such as anupper mounting shaft 528 adapted to mount to the load cell as affixed tothe movable crosshead of the tensile tester. Upper mounting shaft 528 isthreaded as shown, and has a locking collar 527. When upper mountingshaft 528 is connected to the mount of the load cell, locking collar 527is turned against the mount, to immobilize fixture 503 such that thesurface 522 remains orthogonal to the travel axis. The foot 520 isformed of aluminum with a downward-facing, planar, brushed-finishsurface 522 orthogonal to the path of travel of the crosshead.Downward-facing surface 522 must be of sufficient length and width toaccept the entirety of a Hooks Sample, shorter sides extending in aleft-right direction, and must be substantially centered about the axisof upper mounting shaft 528.

Referring to FIGS. 16A-16C, the lower fixture 504 consists of a base513, having two vertical plates 514 and 515 affixed at each end. Anelectronic solenoid 516 (Sealed Linear Solenoid Actuator ExtendedLife—Sealed Pull type, Part No. 9719K112, McMaster Carr, Atlanta, Ga.—orsuitable equivalent) is mounted on the left vertical plate 514, with itsplunger 517 extending to the right and protruding through a hole inplate 514; the hole is large enough to permit free left-right movementof plunger 517. A micrometer 518 (Micrometer Head, Electronic type, 1″Max measuring range 0.00005″ resolution, Part No. 74477589, MSCIndustrial Supply, Melville N.Y. —or suitable equivalent) is mounted onthe right vertical plate 515, with its spindle 519 extending to the leftand protruding through a hole in plate 515; the hole is large enough topermit free left-right movement of the spindle 519. The solenoid plunger517 and the micrometer spindle 519 are substantially coaxial. The base513 is affixed to a suitable mounting device that includes lowermounting shaft 529, adapted to mount to the stationary mount of thetester. Lower mounting shaft 529 is threaded as shown, and has a lockingcollar 526. When lower mounting shaft 529 is mounted to the stationarymount of the tester, locking collar 526 is turned against the stationarymount to immobilize the base 513 relative the stationary mount of thetester, such that it will remain stationary with the stationary mount,so as to maintain surface 511 orthogonal to the path of travel of thecrosshead during testing.

A horizontally sliding plate 510 has an integral tab as shown, connectedto the solenoid plunger 517. Sliding plate 510 is affixed to plate guide512, which has a horizontal, left-right track machined therein whichmates with guide rail 523 to allow free left-right movement, with nosignificant vertical play. (Mating plate guide 512 and guide rail 523are acquired from McMaster-Carr, Atlanta, Ga., Part No. 9880K3 (FrelonPlain-Bearing Guide Block); and Part No. 9880K13 (Frelon Plain-BearingRail).)

Guide rail 523 is affixed to base 513. As a consequence of thisconfiguration, plate guide 512, and correspondingly, sliding plate 510,may move in a horizontal, left-right direction relative base 513, inresponse to activation of solenoid 516. Rightward movement of slidingplate 510 is limited by the distal end of micrometer spindle 519, whichsliding plate 510 abuts in the rightwardmost position. Leftward movementof sliding plate 510 is limited by standoff 525, which plate guide 512abuts in the leftwardmost position.

Guide rail 523 terminates at standoff 525, which also is affixed to base513. Standoff 525 holds two recessed springs 524 that apply a sufficientforce against the plate guide 512 to push the sample plate 510 toabutting relationship with the distal end of micrometer spindle 519 whensolenoid 516 is not activated. Once activated, solenoid 516 pulls thesliding plate 510 toward the left, until plate guide 512 stops againststandoff 525.

An aluminum sample plate having a planar, brushed-finish upward-facingsurface 511 is affixed to the top surface of the sliding plate 510.Upward-facing surface 511 must be of sufficient length and width toaccept the entirety of an LZ Sample, shorter side extending in aleft-right direction, and must be substantially centered about the axisof lower mounting shaft 529.

The fixtures are configured such that when both upper fixture 503 andlower fixture 504 are installed on the tester, upper mounting shaft 528and lower mounting shaft 529 are substantially coaxial, i.e., arealigned along the direction of pull of the crosshead. The fixtures areconfigured such that when Hooks and LZ Samples are properly placedthereon and the fixtures are installed on the tester, the geometriccenters of the rectangular shapes of the Samples are substantiallyaligned on a vertical axis when the Samples are engaged, prior to beingoffset by a Shear Displacement. The fixtures should be adapted suchthat, when installed on the tester, downward surface 522 on upperfixture 503 and upward surface 511 on lower fixture 504 are parallel toeach other and orthogonal to the vertical line of travel of thecrosshead.

Test Protocol

All testing is performed in a conditioned room maintained at about 23°C.±2 C.° and about 50%±2% relative humidity. Precondition the samples atabout 23° C.±2 C.° and about 50%±2% relative humidity for 2 hours priorto testing.

The rectangular Hooks Sample 502 and LZ Sample 501 are to be affixedonto the downward surface 522 and upward surface 511, respectively, withshort sides along the left-right direction (in FIG. 16B, along direction534-536), and in a relative rotational orientation within a horizontalplane corresponding with the direction of shearing force the materialswould encounter in use on a finished article, relative the ShearDisplacement effected by solenoid 516. Referring to FIGS. 16A and 16B,solenoid 516 will move the LZ Sample 501 to the left (direction 536indicated in FIG. 16B) relative the Hooks Sample 502, for the selectedShear Displacement. In view of this, for the Hooks Sample 502 and LZSample 501 to be properly oriented relative each other on the fixtures,they should be placed thereon such that when engaged during the test infacing relationship they represent the manner in which the correspondingmaterials would be (a) oriented; and (b) urged by shearing force,relative each other when engaged on an article. In like fashion, any rawmaterial samples are tested as they would be oriented on a finishedarticle.

Remove the release backing on an LZ Sample. Gently place the LZ Sampleon upward-facing surface 511, oriented as described above. After properalignment, the LZ Sample should be affixed to surface 511 using a forceof approximately 250 g, applied uniformly across the entire surface areaof the sample, while surface 511 is oriented horizontally. Next, removethe release backing on a Hooks Sample. Gently place the Hooks Sample ondownward-facing surface 522, oriented as described above. After properalignment, the Hooks Sample should be affixed to surface 522 using aforce of approximately 250 g, applied uniformly across the entiresurface area of the sample, while surface 522 is oriented horizontally,facing up.

Install the lower fixture 504 and upper fixture 503 onto the tensiletester. Set the gage length between surfaces 522 and 511 to 50 mm. Zerothe load cell.

Activate the solenoid 516 to move the sliding plate 510 so that theplate guide 512 abuts the standoff 525. Adjust the micrometer 518 toextend the spindle 519 until it abuts the sliding plate 510. Zero themicrometer. Then, adjust the micrometer to retract the spindle 519 tothe desired Shear Displacement (i.e., 1.00 mm or 2.00 mm, ±0.005 mm).Deactivate the solenoid 516 to allow the sliding plate 510 to move tothe right so that it abuts the distal end of the micrometer spindle 519.(To assure calibration, the micrometer should be reset to the desiredshear distance after every 20 samples.)

The tensile tester is programmed to move the crosshead down at 5.0mm/sec until it moves 40 mm, and then further descend at a rate of 0.5mm/sec, until 1.00 N of compressive force is applied to the Samples toengage them. After 3 seconds, the solenoid 516 is activated to move thesliding plate 510 to the left (Shear Displacement) position, and heldfor an additional 3 seconds. Next, set the crosshead to zero.

Start the tensile tester program to effect movement of the crosshead up50 mm at 5 mm/sec and collect data. Plot the data as force (N) versusvertical crosshead displacement (mm).

Each LZ Sample and each Hooks Sample may be used for only one test.During the test, confirm that neither of the samples partiallydelaminates from the surfaces 511, 522. If any delamination is detected,the result is invalid.

Following removal of a sample from a surface, clean the surface of anyadhesive residue using appropriate solvent, and allow the surface to drybefore affixing a new sample.

The following calculations are performed from the force/displacementcurve:

-   -   1. Adjusted Crosshead Displacement (“ACD”): The positive        displacement (mm) at which the force exceeds 0.0 N. If as a        result of shearing the sample, the starting force exceeds 0.0 N,        the adjusted crosshead displacement is taken as 0.00 mm.        Reported to ±0.01 mm.    -   2. Vertical Peak Load: The maximum force (N) sustained by the        sample pair, recorded between the ACD and 50 mm Displacement.        Reported to ±0.01 N.    -   3. Displacement at Vertical Peak Load: The displacement (mm)        from the ACD to the Vertical Peak Load. Reported to ±0.01 mm.    -   4. Greatest Vertical Load between 0.0 and 0.5 mm Displacement:        The maximum force (N) sustained by the sample pair, recorded        between the ACD and ACD+0.5 mm Displacement. Reported to ±0.1 N.    -   5. Greatest Vertical Load between 0.0 and 1.0 mm Displacement:        The maximum force (N) sustained by the sample pair, recorded        between ACD and ACD+1.0 mm Displacement. Reported to ±0.1 N.    -   6. Energy for Complete Removal: Energy (mJ), i.e., total area        under the force/displacement curve, between ACD and 50 mm        displacement. Report to ±0.1 mJ.    -   7. Energy to Resist Removal: Energy (mJ), i.e., total area under        the force/displacement curve, between ACD and Displacement to        Peak. Report to ±0.1 mJ.

For obtaining results for a selected landing zone and hooks combinationfor purposes herein, test a minimum of ten landing zone/hooks samplepairs (n=10) and report as an average.

The Vertical Pull Test may be used to compare the performance of anyparticular combination of loops material and hooks material with anyother particular such fastening combination, and may be useful indetermining which combination is more suitable for use in a particularapplication. Accordingly, the Vertical Pull Test may be used to select afastening combination of landing zone material and hooks materialsuitable for use on a wearable article, such as, but not limited to, adisposable diaper.

The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood asbeing strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead,unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean boththe recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding thatvalue. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean“about 40 mm”.

All documents cited herein, including any cross referenced or relatedpatent or application, is hereby incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation ofany document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect toany invention disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in anycombination with any other reference or references, teaches, suggests,or discloses any such invention. Further to the extent that any meaningor definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning ordefinition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, themeaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shallgovern.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have beenillustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in theart that various other changes and modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is thereforeintended to cover in the appended claims all such changes andmodifications that are within the scope of this invention.

1. A method for measuring the force necessary to separate a sample of ahooks fastener component from engagement with a loops component,comprising the steps of: obtaining a sample of the material comprisingthe hooks fastener component; obtaining a sample of the materialcomprising the loops component; affixing the hooks fastener componentsample in a flat configuration to a flat surface of a first fixturecomponent, hooks side out; affixing the loops component sample in a flatconfiguration to a flat surface of a second fixture component, loopsside out; installing the first and second fixture components on atensile tester; engaging the hooks side of the hooks fastener componentsample with the loops side of the loops component sample, along a planeof engagement; displacing at least one said hooks fastener componentsample and said loops component sample with respect to the other, in ashear direction parallel with said plane of engagement; following saiddisplacing step, using said tensile tester to pull at least one of saidhooks fastener component sample and said loops component sample awayfrom the other, in a disengagement direction orthogonal to said plane ofengagement, until said hooks fastener component sample and said loopscomponent sample are disengaged; and measuring pulling force exertedduring said pulling step.
 2. The method of claim 1 further comprisingthe step of measuring the Peak Load sustained by the engaged hooksfastener component and loops component samples before disengagement. 3.The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of measuring theGreatest Load between a first disengagement direction displacement and asecond disengagement direction displacement.
 4. The method of claim 1further comprising the step of measuring the Greatest Load between afirst disengagement direction displacement and a second disengagementdirection displacement.
 5. The method of claim 1 comprising the furtherstep of using said method to identify a combination of hooks fastenercomponent and loops component for use as a fastening combination for awearable article.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein the wearable articlecomprises a chassis having a front waist region; a rear waist region; alanding zone disposed on the front waist region, the landing zonecomprising the loops component; and a fastening member, the fasteningmember comprising the hooks fastener component.
 7. A wearable article,comprising: a chassis having a front waist region, a rear waist region,a landing zone disposed on the front waist region, the landing zonecomprising a loop material, and an extensible fastening member extendinglaterally from the rear waist region and having a fastener disposedthereon, the fastener comprising a hook material, wherein the loopmaterial and the hook material form a fastening combination, wherein theloop material and the hook material are selected using the method ofclaim
 1. 8. A wearable article, comprising: a chassis having a frontwaist region, a rear waist region, a landing zone disposed on the frontwaist region, the landing zone comprising a loop material, and anextensible fastening member extending laterally from the rear waistregion and having a fastener disposed thereon, the fastener comprising ahook material, wherein the loop material and the hook material form afastening combination, wherein the loop material and the hook materialare selected using the method of claim
 2. 9. A wearable article,comprising: a chassis having a front waist region, a rear waist region,a landing zone disposed on the front waist region, the landing zonecomprising a loop material, and an extensible fastening member extendinglaterally from the rear waist region and having a fastener disposedthereon, the fastener comprising a hook material, wherein the loopmaterial and the hook material form a fastening combination, wherein theloop material and the hook material are selected using the method ofclaim
 3. 10. A wearable article, comprising: a chassis having a frontwaist region, a rear waist region, a landing zone disposed on the frontwaist region, the landing zone comprising a loop material, and anextensible fastening member extending laterally from the rear waistregion and having a fastener disposed thereon, the fastener comprising ahook material, wherein the loop material and the hook material form afastening combination, wherein the loop material and the hook materialare selected using the method of claim 4.